On January 15, 1851, the Iowa Legislature authorized the creation of 50 additional counties in the state. Due to its lack of inhabitants, the designated Crawford County area was attached to Shelby County for purposes of revenue, taxation, and judicial matters.
In 1855 there were sufficient settlers, who petitioned for separation from Shelby. This was granted, and a county governing structure was established.[6] The county as then designated did not include its present western townships.
In 1865, four eastern townships of Monona County were separated from that county and incorporated into Crawford County's boundary.[6]
After several adjustments and reorganizations, the present arrangement of Crawford County townships was completed in June 1872.[6]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 715.037 square miles (1,851.94km2), of which 714.198 square miles (1,849.76km2) is land and 0.839 square miles (2.17km2) (0.12%) is water.[7] It is the 13rd largest county in Iowa by total area.[8]
Major highways
U.S. Highway 30 – runs ENE across bottom of county. Enters at Dunlap, exits to Carroll County at Westside.
U.S. Highway 59 – runs generally north–south through center of county, passing Schleswig and Denison. Its exit into Shelby County is five miles east of its entry from Ida County.
Iowa Highway 37 – cuts the SW corner of county, running SE from Monona County to Harrison County.
Iowa Highway 39 – runs north and ENE from Denison to Kiron, then into Ida and Sac Counties.
Iowa Highway 141 – enters SE part of county at Aspinwall, runs west to intersection with US Highway 59, two miles above the county's south line.[9]
View of Crawford County and adjacent counties, with Dennison just above the center. Taken from the International Space Station on July 14, 2002.
U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13] 1990–2000[14] 2010–2020[3]
Population of Crawford County from US census data
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 16,525, a population density of 23.1/sqmi (8.9/km2), and 89.34% of residents reported being of one race. There were 6,855 housing units, of which 6,255 were occupied.[15]
The median age was 37.8 years, with 26.8% of residents under the age of 18 and 18.0% of residents 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.4 males age 18 and over.[15]
49.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 50.7% lived in rural areas.[18]
There were 6,255 households in the county, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.9% were married-couple households, 19.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]
There were 6,855 housing units, of which 8.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.6% were owner-occupied and 27.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.9%.[15]
2010 census
The 2010 census recorded a population of 17,096 in the county, with a population density of 23.9/sqmi (9.2/km2). There were 6,943 housing units, of which 6,413 were occupied.[19]
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 16,942 people, 6,441 households, and 4,489 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 inhabitants per square mile (9.3/km2). There were 6,958 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (3.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.10% White, 0.76% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 4.59% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 8.75% of the population.
There were 6,441 households, out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 26.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,922, and the median income for a family was $40,231. Males had a median income of $28,696 versus $19,798 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,851. About 6.90% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.70% of those under age 18 and 5.60% of those age 65 or over.
Like most of western Iowa, Crawford County leans toward the Republican Party. However, although it gave two-thirds of its vote to Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020, it supported Democrat Barack Obama in 2008.
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